Rubber heel



A. M. EICHORN RUBBER HEEL Filed March 4, 1926 /56 INVENTORY,

w l i l ATroRNEY 25202532134 55 Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR M. EICI-IORN, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO EVERNU CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RUBBER HEEL.

Application filed March 4, 1926, Serial No.

This invention relates to resilient heels for boots and shoes and hasparticular reference to that type of devices commonly known as rotaryheels provided for such adjustment or interchangeability as to insuremaximum length of wear for the heels together with a uniformly neatappearance as well as safety with respect to the wearers ankles.

Among the objects of this invention'is to provide means in conjunctionwith a base or fixed portion of the heel and a tip which is adjustableto present a new and clean edge at the rear portion of theheel and meansfor facilitating the ready attachment of the tip to said base portionand to positively prevent separation of said tip from the base or fixedportion of the heel.

Another object of the invention is to provide positive fastening meansto be effective between a base or fixed portion of a heel and a memberrotatable or otherwise adjustable therealong to take up the wear uponthe heel,

said means being of particularly simple construction and provi-ding forrapid and easy attachment of the parts.

lith the foregoing and other objects iu view the invention consists inthe arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact detailsof construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose ofillustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate thesame parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a bottom planview of the base or fixed portion of the heel.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tip shown herein in the form of a disk.

Fig. 3 is a diagram indicating approXimately the position of the tipwhile sliding into interlocking position with respect to the base. y

et is a detail view showing a portion of the locking plate and a headedpin en gaging therewith according to the diagram of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view similar to Fig. 4L but with the headed pinadvanced further into locking position and the section being 92,108, andin Argentina August 20, 1925.

taken at a different line along the plate to show the tongue inelevation.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of one of my improved heels in assembledposition.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section on the line 7-7 ofFig. 6 and turned upside down with respect to Fig. 3 to lie in normaloperating position.

Fig. 8 is a fractional detail view taken in the direction of arrow 8 inFig. 7 and showing the normal position of engagement of the lockingmechanism. Y

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of. the headed pin. f

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the anchor plate molded in the base.

Fig. 11 is a diagram indicating approximately the manipulation of thedisk or tip for a normal rotary adjustment and with the engaging partsin effective interlocking position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the invention willbeunderstood as comprising two main parts, the base 12 and the tip 13. Thebase may be made of any suitable material preferably molded rubber forbest cushioning effect and uniformity of appearance agreeable to the nowcommon rubber heel usage. This is formed to correspond to the usual heeldesign and comprises a tread portion 14 adjacent to the breast 15 of theheel and formed with an arc shaped shoulder 16 at the rear of thebreast. At the center of the curvature of the shoulder the base isformed with a hole or clear opening the center of which is concentricwith the normal rear curvature of the heel.

Secured in any suitable. manner to and vcarried by the base is an anchorplate 17 made preferably of sheet metal and molded within the body ofthe base or otherwise secured in xed relation thereto. At the center ofthe plate is formed a key hole slot 18 consisting of a large portion 18aand a smaller portion 18h, a bearing seat 19 being formed at 18bconcentric with the heel curvature aforesaid. At the portion 18ZL of theslot is formed a locking or abutment member 20 which constitutes a stop.This abutment member may be constructed in any suitable manner but 'ismovable at an angle to the plane of the plate. It lies approximatelywithin the plane of said plate and projects into the key hole slot to arelatively considerable distance. It is separated from the plate alonglines 21 which extend to a predetermined point along the plane to permitof the desired amount of deflection of said abutment member out of theplane of the plate and Without subjecting the same to ezicessive strainor exceeding the elastic limit. The plate is provided also with a seriesof nail holes Q2, the metal surrounding them being depressed in thedirection in which the abutment member is arranged to be deflected so asto bring the bottoms of the depressions relatively close to the surfaceof the sole against which the base is fastened and also to providecounter sunk seats for the fastener heads indicated in dotted lines at28. Numerous large holes 24 are likewise provided in the plate to permitthe plastic material to pass readily therethrough during the formationof the structure in the molds and to provide a stronger unitary body. Itwill thus be seen from Fic'. 'i' that the plate is embedded within thebodv of the base and except at the open center is practically invisibleeven when the tip is removed.

The tip 13 may be of any suitable material. construction. or form. butis preferably of circular or disk form adapted tobe slightly convex onthe outer or tread surface 13a and concave on its inner surface 13b andof the same diameter as the curved shoulder portion 16 of the base intoand against which it ts normally for use while the thickness or depth ofthe disk is substantially equal to that of the shoulder. The conveiityof the disk provides a slight extension of the central portion thereofbeyond the plane of the tread 14 of the base.

Centrally of the tip is carried as by mold-- ing therein a pin 25having' an external head 26 and an internal anchorage plate or disk 27.This .disk is formed preferably with holes 28 through which the plasticrubber is forced during' the molding` action. making` thereby a strongerunion between the rubber and metal parts. Surrounding the pin on thesurface 13b of the disk is formed an annular depression 29 which addsresiliency to the tip and facilitates the connection or assemblagethereof with respect to the base. A collar of rubber 30 may be formed tosurround the pin and to lie between said pin and the depression 29. saidcollar being` formed coincident with the molding operation at which timeit entends completely about the 'shank of the pin up to the head 26. Bythe application, however, of a tool during the manufacturing' operationthe end of the collar is sheared off adjacent to the head, leaving` aclearance 31 to receive the portion of the plate immediately surroundingthe opening 181 and which forms the bearing seat 19. This collar ofrubber constitutes a cushion giving added resiliency to the tip andserves normally to hold the head of the tip flat against the seatportion of the plate subject of course to the depression of the headinto the clear space 32 surrounding the plate slot as an incident to thewearers weight coming upon the heel.

For convenience of manufacture and manipulation of the device the head26 is preferably circular and the diameter of it approximates the totalwidth of the opening 18a, but the diameter is preferably greater thanthe clear space taken from the free end of the abutment member 2Odiametrically across the opening 18b to the rim thereof. The shank ofthe pin 25 is preferably of con-A siderable size with relation to thehead 26 not only in order to secure a pin of the maximum strength, butalso in order that the free end of the abutment member or tongue 20 willbe positioned in relatively close proximity to said shank as shown inFig. 8 l

when the pin and the plate are properly interloclfed with each other. Inorder to engage the pin with the plate the head 26 is passed through theopening 18 of the key hole slot and at an angle to said plate so as todeflect the tongue 2O out of said opening and at an angle transverse tothe plate as shown by arrow c in Fig'. The under surface of the headadjacent to the shank will then ride along the shoulders 33 provided atthe junction of the openings 18a and 181 of the key hole slot. As themovement of the pin along the plate and transverse thereto progresses,the inclination referred to decreases and the movement of the pinassumes the general direction shown by the arrow 7) in The pin now isreaching its final interlocking position and a slight additionalmovement will suilice to bring the shank into approximately concentricrelation with the opening 18b when the tongue 2O will be in a positionto pass the head and move back into its former coplanar relation to theplate. A slight clearance may be observed between the shank and the rimof the opening 18b as shown in Fig. 8, to permit of a slight moveuientof the pin past the central position referred to so that a tongue may beused which will lock positively over the head. rllhe tip 13 is nowseated snugly in its seat in the fixed or base portion of the heel andlies in flat abutment position against said seat. rIhe head 26 willconsequently be forced to embrace the plate snugly at the bearing seat-19 and the direction of movement of the pin in any manner whatsoever asmay be permitted by the particular construction used must consequentlybe approximately parallel to the plate, but the tongue 20 will now abutagainst the pin and positively prevent such movement along the plate. Itis clear, moreover, that inasmuch as the opening 18b snugly embraces theshank of the pin and over the head thereof the pin can in no manner beremoved. j c This invention has particular application with regard tothe use thereof in connection with a heel comprising a'base or iixedportion and a tip movable therealong and normally retained in positionwithin a certain denite region or area as described hereinbefore and themode of operationk oi the different parts of the fastening means inconjunction with the base and tip portion of the heel will now bedescribed. It will be observed that the tip 13 has normal abutmentrelation against the tread portion 14 of the base and that the opening18a is positioned between the center of the seat and the circularsurface 16 with respect to a line passing longitudinally along the heel.Consequently in order that the fastening means may be operated the tipmust be flexed outward with respect to said seat as shown in Fig. 3, thehead of the pin being then inserted through the larger portion of thekey hole slot, and the tip being then moved in the direction of arrow c.The portion of the tip which happens to be for the moment adjacent tothe tread 14 is retained thereby in elevated position and without theseat. while the tip is being moved forward into concentric relation withrespect to said seat at which time the tip will be wholly receivedthereby to lie in the position shown in Fig. 7. The path of movement ofthe tip is consequently determined by the relation as between the tread14 and the tip and will therefore determine the degree to which thetongue 20 can be deflected and thus prevent said tongue from beingsubjected to excessive strain. but the deflection of the tongue will bejust sufficient to permit the head to be received and passed through thelarger portion of the key hol-e slot while direct contact orabutmentbetween the tip and the base portion of the heel adjacent to theanchor plate 17 will limit the transverse movement of the pin withrespect to said plate. As the tip progresses in its movement in thedirection of arrow c, the angle of inclination of the direction ofmovement thereof with respect to said anchor plate decreases constantlyso that when the pin comes into position to be embraced b v its bearing`seat 19, the head of the pin will slide along` the plate inapproximately parallel relation thereto. The tongue upon being releasedwill move into abutment relation to the pin. It is clear that if onewere now to attempt to detach t-he tip from the base portion of the heelbv raising that part of the tip adjacent to the tread 14 and iexing thesame out of the seat and attemptingr to reverse the. direction ofmovement of the tip described hereinbefore so as to disengage thelocking parts. the tongue 2O would take up vthe component force exertedupon the tip along the plate and easily and positiv-ely prevent movementof the head of the pin into the opening 18a. It will consequently beimpossible to remove the tip and the tip will be locked reliably inattachment to` the bas-e portion of the heel both against accidental andintentional withdrawal. structed by me previously after the tip becameworn to a certain degree, movement 0f the tip toward the tread 14 of thebase of the heel would sometimes occur due to some accidental or someunusual force or strain to which the heel might have been subjected atthe tip and that upon such occasions a detachment of the tip from thebase portion of the heel would occur and result in considerableinconvenience and oftentimes danger. Moreover, I have found for variouscommercial reasons that it is desirable to provide a positive interlockbetween the tip and the base portion of the heel and prevent anyintentional detachment or separation of the parts. This constructionwill be observed to be of particularly simple nature and most of theparts may be formed by stamping or by other operations that lendthemselves particularly to large scale production, and thatl a strongand positive interlock is provided, although on the other hand thefastening means may be interlocked with the greatest ease and facility.By forming the shank of the pin so as to be of considerable size withrespect to the head, the clearance as between the free end of the tongue2O and the adjacent surface of the tongue can be reduced to a minimum.Consequentlyonly the very slightest amount of a reverse movement of thetip could be obtained. This would insure again that any strains orforces which might be brought to bear upon the tip for disengaginq the'lockf ing mechanism would be borne substantially directly as between thepin and the anchor plate and without subjecting the tongue 2() to anymaterial strains. Moreover. such proportioning` or construction of thepin by limiting within a smaller amount the possible forward or reversemovement of the tip would positively prevent the tip from beimT so movedand flexed as to lie upon the tread portion 14 as shown in 3, Moreover.the abutment action or relation of the concave face 13b of the tipagainst the adjacent portion of the lseat in the member 12 of the heelwould. extend over a greater area and be uniform around the pin so as toco-opfrate therewith to prevent or .minimize the tilting action to whichthe pin could be subjected in any attempt to mov-e the same from thefixed part of the heel.

The base adjacent to the tip is provided with one or more lugs 34extending into selected' holes or pits 35 formed in the inner face 13bof the tip concentric with the pin.

I have found that in heels cony in Fig. ll and givheel always presentsnbat fiat appearance and the beet results to the wearer are cffected.

After the base is nailed or otherwise secured to the shoe solo as by theapplication of nails 23 through the holes 22,1L and 22h, the holes 22registering with the plate holes 22, the tip is inserted as suggested inF 3, the body of the tip being reversely fieri-ed at the rear of theheel so that the lugs will not interfere and the forward side of the tipwill pass into place over the treat 14, the head of the pin at this timebeing in a plane oblique to the plane of the plate so as to passedgewisc through the lrey hole slot. After the pin and the plate areroperly interloclred as aforesaid the disk is then adjusted rotarily tomalte the lugs register with two of the pits 35 after which theconnection is complete and the heel is ready to be used. lfhen a portionof the tip is worn off as indicated at 15C, Fig. il, the adjacentportion of the tip he r ar of the heel is sprung out and the tip isrotated through a suitable angle to bring the lugs into other of thepits when the structure constitutes practically a new heel. rlhus asshown eight adjustments may be effected during the life of the heel.rlhe base is practically indestructible and the wear thereon so sligliitthat it can be disregarded.

This invention permits a considerable saving in point of rubber inasmuchas a relatively cheap grade of that material mrv be used for the base,while the tip is made of a high grade of rubber for the reason asindicated hereinbefore that the tip is the part which is subjectedpiin'iai'ily to wear.

The construction shown herein may assume various forms within the scopeof this invention and generally it willl be seen that the tongue 2Oconstitutes a member which is movable relative to the plate forinterlocking with the pin and that the pin may be of any suitableconstruction for interlocking with the plate by a sliding movement withrespect thereto and "lore particularly b v a sliding` movement along theplate. Generally the tongue is constructed to lie adjacent to the keyhole slot and to prevent a reversal of the sliding` movement referredto. It may be operated in any suitable manner though preferably for thesalie of simplicity is moved directly by the pin co-incident with theengagement thereof with the plate.

l claim:

l. In a heel of the class described, the combination of ay base, a tip,and fastening means eective between the base and the tip comprising amember borne by one of the aforesaid parts and having a head, a plateborne by the other part and provided with an opening to receive andengage around said head by a. lateral relative sliding movement, anabutment member being provided entending adjacent to said openingdisposed so as to be movable outward of the opening to permit the headto be engaged as aforesaid, said abutment member being'then movable inreverse direction to lie in positive abutment relation to said memberand prevent the same from being disengaged from said plate. Y y

2. 1n a heel, the combination of Va base, a tip, and fastening meansoperative between the base and' the tip comprising a member borne by oneof the aforesaid parts and having` a head, a plate borne by the otherpart and having an opening to receive and enaround said head, and atongue dispoed to lie with the free end thereof in the plane of saidplate and in said opening, said tongue being disposed to lie in positiveabutment relation to said member to prevent t-isermgagement of the headfrom the plate. and being movable out of the opening only when themember is being engaged.

3. ln a heel. the combination of a base. a tip, and fastening meansoperative between the base and the tip comprising a member borne by oneof the aforesaid parts. a plate having an openingv borne b v the otherpart. said member being receivable in said opening and being1 retainedagainst movement in one direction when so received, and a locking memberdisposed in proximity vto said opening and movable to positivelyinterlock with the aforesaid member and prevent movement thereof inanother direction and separation of the parts. l

1. 1n a heel, the combination ofa base, atip, and fastening meansoperative between the base and the tip comprising a member borne by oneof the aforesaid parts. means borne by the other part for engaging saidmember bya relative downward and lateral movement, and abutment means topositively prevent a reverse lateral movement connorising a member'positioned in the path of relative downward movement of said parts andmovable temporarily out of said path to permit of engage-ment asaforesaid.

5. ln a. heel, the combination of a base, a tip, and fastening meansoperative between the base and tip comprising a member borne by one ofthe aforesaid parts and having a head and a shank, a plate borne by theother part and having an opening to receive and engage around said headby a relative sliding movement between the member and the plate, and atongue disposed to abut against said shank to prevent a reverse movementand consequent disengagement of the member from the plate, said tonguebeing disposed to lie in the patlrof movement of the member and beingmoved out of said path by the member coincident with the engagementthereof as aforesaid, said tongue being then movable to lie in abutmentrelation to said shank.

6. In a heel, the combination of a base, l0 a tip, and fastening meansoperative between the base and tip comprising a member borne by one ofthe aforesaidparts and having a head and a shank, a plate borne by theother part and having an opening to receive and engage around said headby a relative sliding movement between the member and the plate, and atongue disposed to abut against said shank to prevent a reverse movementand consequent disengagement of the '20 member from the plate, saidtongue being movable over the head of said member to lie in abutmentrelation to said shank.

7. In a heel of the class described, the combination of a base, a tip,and fastening means elfective between the base and the tip comprising aheaded member having a head and a shank and borne by the tip and meansin the base for engaging over the head of the member, said means beingprovided with a key hole slotl to receive the head through the largerportion of the slot, and a tongue projecting adjacent to said largerportion of the slot and arranged to be moved to permit said head toenter the larger portion of said slot, said member being then passedinto the smaller portion of the slot for locking, whereby said tonguecan move past said head and into position to abut against said shank andthus prevent av reo verse movement of said member and a. consequentrelease thereof through the larger portion of the slot.

8. In a heel of the class described, the combination of a base portion,a tip portion, a member borne by one of said portions and having a headand a shank, and means borne by the other` portion provided with a keyhole slot and a tongue projecting adjacent to the larger portion of saidslot, said tongue being movable to permit the head to be passed throughthe larger portion of said slot, said member being thence movablewiththe shank thereof into the smaller portion of the slot and with the headengaging about the smaller portion of the slot, whereby said tongue canmove past said head and into position to abut against the shank andprevent a reverse movement of the member and a consequent releasethereof from engagement.

9. The combination as in claim 8 wherein said means consists of a plate,said tongue being struck from said plate and lying normally in the planethereof.

10. The combination as in claim 8 wherein said means consists of aplat-e, said tongue being struck from said plate and lying normally inthe plane thereof whereby said tongue engages over said head when thetongue passes thereover for interlocking engagement as aforesaid.

il. rihe con'ibination asin claim 8 wherein said means consists of aplate, said tongue being struck from said plate and lying normally inthe plane thereof, said tongue being depressed when the head is beingengaged with the key hole slot, said tongue being then released to moveback into the plane of the plate and prevent a reverse movement of themember.

l2. In a heel, the combination of a heel portion, a tip portion, amember borne by one of said portions and having a head, and means borneby the other portion provided with a key hole slot and a tongueprojecting adjacent to the larger portion of said slot, said tonguebeing disposed to lie in abutment to said member, said head beingengageable in said slot by a sliding movement, said tongue serving toprevent a reverse movement and a consequent disengagement, said tonguelying in the path of the said member and being moved thereby out of saidpath coincident with the engagement thereof in said slot. .13. In aheel, the combination of a heel portion, a tip portion, a member borneby one of said portions and having a head, and means borne by the otherportion provided with a key hole slot and a tongue projecting adjacentto the larger portion of said slot, said tongue being disposed to lie inabutment to said member, said head being engageable in said slot by asliding movement, said tongue serving to prevent a reverse movement anda consequent dis-engagement, said tongue lying in the path of saidmember and being moved thereby out of said path' coincident with theengagement thereof in said slot, said tongue being resilient foreffective automatic movement for this purpose as aforesaid.

11i. A heel of the class described comprising, in combination, a basefor permanent attachment to a shoe and having a seat adj acent to itstread, an anchor member secured at the base in communication with saidseat, a tip member fitted in said seat, and locking means carried by thetip and adapted to interlock with said anchor member coincident with theinsertion of the tip into the seat for holding the tip in said seat,said base having a shoulder adjacent to said seat to contact the tip ata lside thereof, said locking means and said anchor member be ing-engaged with each other by a movement of said tip into said seat overand away from said shoulder until said tip and. said shoulder makecontact as aforesaid, abutment meansbeing provided disposed to lie inthe path of relative movement of the locking r-ection of relativemovement aforesaid and means and the anchor member when the to insure ofa uniform and predetermined 10 same are being engaged, and to be movedmovement ofthe abutment means out of said out of said path to permit ofsaid engagepath coincident with the engagement as 5 ment, said abutmentmeans being then effecaforesaid.

tive to prevent a reverse movement of the In testimony whereof I aflx mysignature. locking means With respect to the anchor member, said tipserving to control the di- ARTHUR M. EICHORN.

